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As we observe Veterans Day, it is fitting to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served and to deepen our understanding of the invisible wounds that often accompany combat. One of the most pervasive and persistent of those wounds is Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While PTSD is fundamentally a mental health condition, its effects extend far beyond thoughts or emotions: the brain and body bear the imprint of trauma long after the battlefield. Here, we explore how PTSD affects the veteran brain and body, why that matters, and how healing begins — including how therapy and medical support play a vital role.
PTSD is not simply “worry or fear after war”; it manifests in detectable changes in brain structure and connectivity. In veterans, researchers found that a subtype of PTSD characterized by impaired executive functioning (such as difficulty with attention, goal-setting, and juggling multiple tasks) also exhibited significantly disrupted connectivity in the brain’s frontal-parietal control network and the limbic network (which regulates emotion and memory). In essence, trauma-exposed veterans may develop a form of PTSD in which the brain’s wiring for managing stress and cognition is altered. Further, another study found structural enlargement of the Amygdala (the brain’s fear and threat detection center) in veterans with combat-related PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury. A more recent cellular-level investigation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) revealed that PTSD reshapes the brain’s micro-landscape: synaptic signaling, immune-gene networks, and even blood-vessel cell activity differ in brains of veterans with PTSD compared to those without. These findings underscore that trauma is not just psychological — it is neurobiological.
Why does this matter? The brain changes associated with PTSD can help explain why symptoms persist long after traumatic events and why some veterans struggle with concentration, memory, emotional regulation, and the feeling that they remain “on guard” even in safe environments. Recognizing PTSD as having a tangible effect on brain structure and function helps reduce stigma and underscores the importance of targeted, evidence-based interventions.
While we often think of PTSD in psychological terms, the body carries the load as well. Veterans with long-standing PTSD are at increased risk for chronic physical conditions. For example, one longitudinal study of aging Vietnam-era veterans found that combat exposure and PTSD strongly predicted cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses decades after service. PTSD is also frequently associated with chronic pain, and veterans who experience both PTSD and persistent pain show worse physical functioning and health outcomes than those with either condition alone. The mechanism involves elevated and prolonged activation of the body’s stress systems — the sympathetic nervous system (think fight or flight) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Because these systems evolved for short bursts of threat, their chronic activation can strain organs, interfere with sleep, hamper immune function, promote inflammation, and alter metabolism.
For veterans, the combined effects of trauma, physical injuries (including mild traumatic brain injuries or blast exposures), and ongoing stress place a tremendous burden on the body. The mind-body link is clear: unresolved PTSD increases vulnerability to disease, accelerates aging, and diminishes quality of life.
Veterans face trauma in contexts that amplify risk: combat exposure, exposure to blasts and traumatic brain injury (TBI), the need to maintain vigilance over extended periods, and often a transition to civilian life that may not give full recognition to their hidden wounds. TBI and PTSD often co-occur — in fact, mild TBI (concussion) in military personnel has been shown to double the risk of developing PTSD. This comorbidity complicates recovery and can worsen cognitive and physical outcomes. The latest research suggests that specific brain networks may even affect whether a veteran develops PTSD after a TBI. Taken together, these factors make it all the more crucial to approach veterans’ mental health with nuance, compassion, and scientific rigor.
The good news is that understanding how PTSD affects the brain and body leads to more effective approaches for treatment and recovery. Evidence-based psychotherapies (like cognitive processing therapy or prolonged exposure) continue to be strongly recommended by the VA. But given the complex brain changes and bodily impact in veteran PTSD, a comprehensive approach is essential: a plan that addresses the mind, the nervous system, and the body.
Healing may involve psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy when indicated, lifestyle interventions (like exercise, sleep hygiene, mindful movement), and monitoring of physical health conditions. For many veterans, engaging in treatment sends the message: you do not have to navigate this alone; your brain and body deserve care. On this Veterans Day, we honor the service of every veteran by acknowledging the depth of what they may carry — and by offering a pathway to relief.
If you or a veteran you care about is living with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, please know that help is available. Our team is ready to walk alongside you: whether that means scheduling mental-health therapy tailored for veterans or exploring alternative options (i.e. a Medical Cannabis Card) for conditions associated with PTSD and trauma. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Most major insurance plans (including Tricare/TriWest) accepted. Don't wait: Healing starts the moment someone reaches out.
